Segun Atanda/
Security operatives in Oyo State have rescued two victims and arrested three suspects following a kidnapping incident at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Idi-Ayunre, in Ibadan with efforts ongoing to locate others still missing.
The incident, which occurred around 12.23pm on Wednesday, involved representatives of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, who were reportedly at the institute’s nursery site to submit cocoa seedlings for the 2026 planting season when they were attacked and abducted by armed men.
A coordinated response involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps and local vigilante groups led to a swift pursuit of the assailants in nearby bush paths.
Police authorities confirmed that two male victims were successfully rescued during the operation, while three suspects were apprehended and taken into custody.
Spokesman of the Oyo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, said intensive search efforts were continuing to secure the release of any remaining victims.
Security teams have since launched sustained bush-combing operations in the area, with officials maintaining pressure on the fleeing suspects.
While the exact number of abducted persons remains unclear, authorities assured residents that all necessary measures were being deployed to ensure their safe recovery.
The police also urged members of the public to remain calm but vigilant, and to provide credible information that could assist ongoing rescue efforts.
The incident adds to growing concerns over security around agricultural and research facilities, particularly in rural corridors linking Oyo and neighbouring Ogun State, where farmers and agribusiness operators have increasingly become soft targets for criminal groups.
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